what is the ideal size for a SS? Is uder 6' to small?
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Freddie Patek was 5'4" and about a buck-fifty. He played for 14 years in MLB. You won't find many power hitters at that size, but if you can play, you can play.
I agree with the previous posters, size doesn't matter in baseball at any level. It's all about the tools...
If you can play you can play. Size matters when schools are looking at players. That is a fact. But it is not the deciding factor. The ability to play is the overiding factor. If everything is equal the bigger stronger faster kid will get the nod. But how often are all things equal? The bottom line is if your the best option you will be on the field.
My son played shortstop at a DI program ... All conference twice. Size matters only if you cannot play.
Okay, great pep talks. But to answer the question, the "ideal" size is probably about 6'3". "Under 6'" isn't "too small" - 5'11" is perfectly fine. 5'10" is OK. Anything shorter than that and you're going to have to prove yourself - if you get a chance. (Is it OK to tell the truth every once in a while?) The "exceptions" prove the rule. No one would pay any attention to Eckstein if he wasn't "too short."
P-Dog,
I appreciate your dose of honesty and accuracy.
I appreciate your dose of honesty and accuracy.
OK cause Im 5'8 135 as a frosh in high school and i was wondering if it was too small
You're still very young, St. Anthony's, and probably have a lot of growing ahead of you. Taking a look at the members of your family will give you an idea. Work on your game, and don't get caught up in things you can't change. Now go eat something. 
Too small for what? Certainly not high school, and I am guessing you will grow. Don't worry until you have to and try not to worry about something you cannot control.
By the way, I think 6-3 is a bit taller than the ideal for a shortstop.
By the way, I think 6-3 is a bit taller than the ideal for a shortstop.
Even if you are 6 ft 3 inches tall you had better be able to play the position !!!
Just being 6 ft 3 inches is not enough--you need to have talent
SS you are still very young so don't worry about your height--worry about continually improving your game---keep doing that and your height can become incidental
Just being 6 ft 3 inches is not enough--you need to have talent
SS you are still very young so don't worry about your height--worry about continually improving your game---keep doing that and your height can become incidental
Since when was talent worth anything without work? Darryl Strawberry comes to mind. anyway, the one who works hard and plays hard will play more.
Since when is talent anything without working hard? Darryl Strawberry comes to mind. The hardest worker will almost always be the better player. Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter, and Juan Pierre are perfect examples.
Your size is fine for a freshman. If you grow a couple of inches over the next couple of years, and have the talent and work ethic, you can do great at shortstop. If you don't grow any more, I'd suggest you look into shifting over to second base. Coaches tend to feel more comfortable with a smaller guy on that side of the bag. All this depends on the situation, of course. Baseball is a "numbers game". If you're the only guy around with the range and arm strength to play short, you'll be the guy. I'm assuming that you're asking about the future, and how you might fare against a wide variety of top level talent. Smart of you to look ahead.
SS, be patient. Your size is not anything to worry about at your age. We were laughing with my son last weekend. When he started high school he was 5'4" and weighed 94 lbs. Also plays SS. His growing occured the next 3 years. Last Tuesday he was swinging the bat against Randy Johnson. Make sure you focus on what you can control which is you ability as a ball player. Your size is not anything you can control so don't let anyone, especially yourself, let it be a factor for you in baseball.
ST.ANTHONY'S SS,
Most would agree with P Dog when he said about 6’ 3”. I would say if you were a barefoot 6’ 1” to 6’ 3” is the height of preference right now in mlb.
As others said in regards to your second question, there is no rule that you can’t play shortstop under 6’ tall.
While height won’t rule you in or out, other factors such as your arm strength, athleticism and speed will. These other factors are primarily based on your God given talent although you certainly have the opportunity to improve them to a degree.
You mentioned that you currently are 5’ 8’” tall as a freshman and Orlando gave you an excellent response. A big determining factor at this age is where you are in puberty. My son also plays shortstop and was around 5’7” when he started his freshman year last year. When we talked about height back then I told him to worry about things he can control just like Jemazz and TR suggested to you. This year my son is a sophomore and is almost 6’ 2”. Now that he has the height, he is impatient about gaining weight. My advice to him now is the same as it was with the height. I told him that when the time was right for him to gain weight, he would, in the mean time worry about things he can control such as lifting weights, nutrition and his overall game.
PG has written about late bloomers so positively in the past. (Search the archives if you are interested) His posts on this subject should provide confidence and serve as a catalyst for any players who feel that describes them.
However the number one factor in determining if you have what it takes to play shortstop on your team is if you are better at that position than your teammates. You may not be the greatest shortstop but if you are the best you got, you’ll play. It is also possible that if you are the second best shortstop in the country, but if the best is on your team, you still won’t play. Therefore keep your position options open.
One last thing I’d like to mention to all young players who want to play shortstop. Shortstop is a demanding position and requires athletic ability as well as strength. Because of this, it is quite normal for young players who compete for the varsity position to move over to second base while their body and strength catch up. At that point they can move back to shortstop if they eventually have the tools. If they don’t, there’s nothing wrong with being the best second baseman around.
In addition, it is likely that when a shortstop goes to college that there will be a few of them recruited. Being able to list that you have experience at second base on your resume may make the difference in earning playing time or even receiving a scholarship down the road.
PS
I noticed that as I was typing this, P Dog and Infield Dad said much of the same. I’ll post this anyway as validation from my perspective. Good luck to you.
Most would agree with P Dog when he said about 6’ 3”. I would say if you were a barefoot 6’ 1” to 6’ 3” is the height of preference right now in mlb.
As others said in regards to your second question, there is no rule that you can’t play shortstop under 6’ tall.
While height won’t rule you in or out, other factors such as your arm strength, athleticism and speed will. These other factors are primarily based on your God given talent although you certainly have the opportunity to improve them to a degree.
You mentioned that you currently are 5’ 8’” tall as a freshman and Orlando gave you an excellent response. A big determining factor at this age is where you are in puberty. My son also plays shortstop and was around 5’7” when he started his freshman year last year. When we talked about height back then I told him to worry about things he can control just like Jemazz and TR suggested to you. This year my son is a sophomore and is almost 6’ 2”. Now that he has the height, he is impatient about gaining weight. My advice to him now is the same as it was with the height. I told him that when the time was right for him to gain weight, he would, in the mean time worry about things he can control such as lifting weights, nutrition and his overall game.
PG has written about late bloomers so positively in the past. (Search the archives if you are interested) His posts on this subject should provide confidence and serve as a catalyst for any players who feel that describes them.
However the number one factor in determining if you have what it takes to play shortstop on your team is if you are better at that position than your teammates. You may not be the greatest shortstop but if you are the best you got, you’ll play. It is also possible that if you are the second best shortstop in the country, but if the best is on your team, you still won’t play. Therefore keep your position options open.
One last thing I’d like to mention to all young players who want to play shortstop. Shortstop is a demanding position and requires athletic ability as well as strength. Because of this, it is quite normal for young players who compete for the varsity position to move over to second base while their body and strength catch up. At that point they can move back to shortstop if they eventually have the tools. If they don’t, there’s nothing wrong with being the best second baseman around.
In addition, it is likely that when a shortstop goes to college that there will be a few of them recruited. Being able to list that you have experience at second base on your resume may make the difference in earning playing time or even receiving a scholarship down the road.
PS
I noticed that as I was typing this, P Dog and Infield Dad said much of the same. I’ll post this anyway as validation from my perspective. Good luck to you.
A couple of summers ago my son of short stature, now a 9th grader, was participating in the local high school camp. After the camp was complete, I inquired of one of the coaches if he could suggest anything specific that my boy needed to work on...without missing a beat he replied "Five meals a day!" 
18 Orlando Cabrera R/R 5-10 190
28 Adam Everett R/R 6-0 170
7 Bobby Crosby R/R 6-3 195
1 Rafael Furcal S/R 5-10 165
23 Rickie Weeks R/R 6-0 195
22 David Eckstein R/R 5-7 165
5 Nomar Garciaparra R/R 6-0 190
9 B.J. Upton R/R 6-3 180
4 Craig Counsell L/R 6-0 185
3 Cesar Izturis S/R 5-9 180
13 Omar Vizquel S/R 5-9 185
12 Alex Cora L/R 6-0 180
3 Pokey Reese R/R 5-11 190
11 Alex Gonzalez R/R 6-0 200
7 Jose Reyes S/R 6-0 175
15 Cristian Guzman S/R 6-0 205
10 Miguel Tejada R/R 5-9 215
3 Khalil Greene R/R 5-11 210
11 Jimmy Rollins S/R 5-8 165
14 Jose Castillo R/R 6-1 200
10 Michael Young R/R 6-1 190
16 Edgar Renteria R/R 6-1 200
2 Felipe Lopez S/R 6-1 185
8 Desi Relaford S/R 5-9 180
4 Angel Berroa R/R 6-0 180
9 Carlos Guillen S/R 6-1 205
17 Juan Castro R/R 5-11 195
5 Juan Uribe R/R 5-11 215
2 Derek Jeter R/R 6-3 195
13 Alex Rodriguez R/R 6-3 225
The average height of these guys was 5-9. I agree with the guys that say "if you can play it doesn't matter how tall you are." In my opinion, Don't worry about you're height so much, make the best with what you have.
28 Adam Everett R/R 6-0 170
7 Bobby Crosby R/R 6-3 195
1 Rafael Furcal S/R 5-10 165
23 Rickie Weeks R/R 6-0 195
22 David Eckstein R/R 5-7 165
5 Nomar Garciaparra R/R 6-0 190
9 B.J. Upton R/R 6-3 180
4 Craig Counsell L/R 6-0 185
3 Cesar Izturis S/R 5-9 180
13 Omar Vizquel S/R 5-9 185
12 Alex Cora L/R 6-0 180
3 Pokey Reese R/R 5-11 190
11 Alex Gonzalez R/R 6-0 200
7 Jose Reyes S/R 6-0 175
15 Cristian Guzman S/R 6-0 205
10 Miguel Tejada R/R 5-9 215
3 Khalil Greene R/R 5-11 210
11 Jimmy Rollins S/R 5-8 165
14 Jose Castillo R/R 6-1 200
10 Michael Young R/R 6-1 190
16 Edgar Renteria R/R 6-1 200
2 Felipe Lopez S/R 6-1 185
8 Desi Relaford S/R 5-9 180
4 Angel Berroa R/R 6-0 180
9 Carlos Guillen S/R 6-1 205
17 Juan Castro R/R 5-11 195
5 Juan Uribe R/R 5-11 215
2 Derek Jeter R/R 6-3 195
13 Alex Rodriguez R/R 6-3 225
The average height of these guys was 5-9. I agree with the guys that say "if you can play it doesn't matter how tall you are." In my opinion, Don't worry about you're height so much, make the best with what you have.
I just got back from the UNC VA game in Chapel Hill it went 16 innings. I saw a 2d baseman that was listed at 5'7 really about 5'6. I saw a ss that was listed at 5'10 looked like he was about 5'8. There were as usual several kids listed at 6'0 that were about 5'10. One of the kids listed at 6'2 is a little shorter than my 08 who is 6'0. IF YOU CAN PLAY YOU CAN PLAY. Dont worry about things you can not control and things that really dont matter what kind of player you are. What good does it do anyway?
Howdeshell, if your average height is their current height, you better check your math. I would guess that the ave. height is about 6'
My son had someone at a pro tryout tell him that he would never be a ML SS because he is too big-they said he is build for 3B. He is 6'4" 187 lbs!?#
St Anthony's SS-
My son was approx. 5'9" his freshman year. He is now 6'4".
St Anthony's SS-
My son was approx. 5'9" his freshman year. He is now 6'4".
Check the size of your heart not your body. If you have the heart and soul to play the game then your height will not matter.
My son was 5'1" freshman year is now a senior and 5'10" and growing fast.
My son was 5'1" freshman year is now a senior and 5'10" and growing fast.
For years some people said my son was to small to play pro ball. Those people were wrong. Don't worry about things you can't control. Work at being the best.
Hopefully someday enough "small" players will slip through the cracks and make to the majors and maybe then players will not be drafted just based on their size . I don't think someone like greg maddox would be drafted today .
The oakland a's have competed every year with a 50 million dollar payroll because they do creative drafting . They go after player who don't fit the mold .
Every year they say pedro will break down because of his size . But they very rarely talk about a guy who is 6'4 and his mechanics break down because he is so tall . They will draft pitchers out of high school just based on their size and instead of the player using his size to get a college education he believes the scout ends up not making it to the majors and without a degree .
The oakland a's have competed every year with a 50 million dollar payroll because they do creative drafting . They go after player who don't fit the mold .
Every year they say pedro will break down because of his size . But they very rarely talk about a guy who is 6'4 and his mechanics break down because he is so tall . They will draft pitchers out of high school just based on their size and instead of the player using his size to get a college education he believes the scout ends up not making it to the majors and without a degree .
Players dont get drafted or signed by college programs based solely on thier size. Size will get you a closer look maybe a longer look though. And if all things are equal size will give you the nod. But first and foremost a player must have the tools to play. Dont worry about the things you can not control. Your height is the one thing you can not control. Take care of the things you can control that in the end will be the difference.
Coach May,
How big is the shortstop for the Atlanta Braves? The Braves are shown nationally about every night. I would advise any youngster to watch him. The guy has a cannon in his arsenal of tools. How do you get one of those? There have been about two thousand posts on this sight for improving arm strength - long toss... etc. Omar Visquel is the best I have ever seen and he is 5-10 - the same height as my son who is a shortstop. You don't even have to guess who every Cleveland high school player has modeled their game after for the last 13 years.
How big is the shortstop for the Atlanta Braves? The Braves are shown nationally about every night. I would advise any youngster to watch him. The guy has a cannon in his arsenal of tools. How do you get one of those? There have been about two thousand posts on this sight for improving arm strength - long toss... etc. Omar Visquel is the best I have ever seen and he is 5-10 - the same height as my son who is a shortstop. You don't even have to guess who every Cleveland high school player has modeled their game after for the last 13 years.